by John McCormick
Sen. Barack Obama is launching a new television ad Wednesday in Iowa that stresses his rhetoric for decreasing the influence of lobbyists and political action committees, a theme he hit hard while campaigning in Cedar Rapids Monday.
The 30-second ad, called "Take it Back,” uses video from his February presidential announcement speech in Springfield and a five-paragraph Chicago Tribune news story from January 2006 that carried the headline, "Obama is Democrats’ Point Man on Ethics."
In late June, Obama started running his first TV ads in the first-in-the-nation-caucus state, including one that featured a prominent DuPage County Republican backing Obama.
Obama's campaign also recently started running radio ads in South Carolina to try to target African-American voters there. But it still has not started advertising in the early primary state of New Hampshire, where Obama continues to trail Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York.
"They think they own this government," Obama says in the Springfield video. "But we're here today to take it back."
Still, Obama has been criticized by some for being less than pure on relationships with lobbyists.
A Tribune story last week showed his continued reliance on bundlers who include some of the nation's richest and most powerful people. As the Los Angeles Times pointed out in April, Obama also takes money from lawyers who work for Washington firms that do lobbying.
The new ad can be viewed at this link.
Obama spokesman Bill Burton did not respond to an e-mail seeking the size of the buy or whether the ad is running statewide in Iowa.
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Comments
More free pro-Obama pub from his unpaid press agent, John McCormick.
Does the name Tony Rezko ring a bell, anyone?
Posted by: Bruce | July 31, 2007 12:08 PM
I find Obama as an example of great ethics as a joke. People here in IL know the truth about his Rezko deals, his investment oversight (rolling eyes), and the fact that he is a "made" member of the most corrupt political organization in the entire country, Cook County Democrat. His mentor EMil Jones is one of the most corrupt politcians this state has ever seen, Blago is worse than Ryan, Stroger is a national joke, these are all people he supported and part of his circle. How could anyone want to give these types of people the keys to the WHite House. Obama claims he does not take money from special interests but then it is proven that he gets around this by accepting bundles. Are people just naive or plain stupid?
Posted by: Vinny | July 31, 2007 12:19 PM
Good add! This is exactly the kind of thing that made me love McCain in 2000.
Can you imagine Hillary talking about out of control lobyist? Yeah, I doubt it. They are under HER control, and she theirs.
Please God, no Hillary and no Romney... Our country is in bad enough shape already.
Posted by: nisleib | July 31, 2007 12:22 PM
Nice try Bruce. That dog won't hunt. Otherwise the REPUBLICAN DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE would be indicting Senator Obama. No laws have been broken. Unless you can tell us what laws Obama broke, you robot
Posted by: Janet | July 31, 2007 1:18 PM
The Republic Party is scared of Obama.....which gives everyone else another good reason to vote for him.
GOBAMA 08
Posted by: John E | July 31, 2007 1:24 PM
"Janet", you're posting is silly, and even within that silliness, is incorrect.
As Obama himself would tell you, "ethics" involves a lot more than not breaking the law. For example, the revolving door lobbying arrangements he denounces are legal, whatever their ethics or lack thereof.
Barack Obama is yet another of those "do as I say not as I do" politicians. To give a specific example, Obama has lied, repeatedly, about the extent of his involvement with Fixer Rezko. To give another specific example, while coming out for "open" legislation, he supported the secret drafting of the recent illegal immigration bill.
This kind of lying and hypocrisy is legal--but not ethical.
Posted by: Bruce | July 31, 2007 1:55 PM
Name 3 lies. Specific lies he has made Bruce.
Posted by: Janet | July 31, 2007 2:37 PM
Bruce-
Keep it up; you are a real asset to Obama's campaign.
Your continual attacks are not taken seriously.
The only logical conclusion is that you must fear his candidcy.
Posted by: John A | July 31, 2007 3:00 PM
Janet,
Bruce had to run back to RNC Mission Control for new Obama talking points, he'll get back to you later :0)
Posted by: John E | July 31, 2007 3:41 PM
"This kind of lying and hypocrisy is legal--but not ethical.
Posted by: Bruce | July 31, 2007 1:55 PM"
Like all of the half-truths, obfuscations, and distortions we hear daily from the Shrub administration are ethical?
Posted by: BC | July 31, 2007 3:41 PM
Voters need only look behind the candidate to Barack's consultant, lobbyist Tom Daschle to find the lobbyists influence inside the Obama camp.
Posted by: Patrick Davis | July 31, 2007 11:24 PM
Patrick Davis,
Do you work for Chris Dodd?
Posted by: Doug Zook | August 1, 2007 12:52 PM
Alright! All this conspiracy theory that you're posting is getting childish and ridiculous. If you do have proof, I'm sure that the media would want to put their hands on it. Assuming and being judgmental is the problem we're facing today! What we need is someone that can stand up for what is right. If you don't have any idea who might that be, and keep observing with a curteous eye? In the end, their moral values and personality would reveal by their character.
Thank You.
Posted by: Michael Charles | August 1, 2007 9:17 PM
Lying about Obama just because you don't want him is not a fair way to see our Nation growing up. We just need somebody who can stand up for what is human, what is honest and legal for people of a Nation. And Obama is full of these qualities.
Thank you
Posted by: Adam | December 30, 2007 5:28 AM